The Cleveland Guardians are a very solid team that won 92 games in 2024, making it all the way to the AL Championship Series.
Once there, their lack of quality rotation depth showed its ugly face and became an obstacle during the entire series.
Yes, the Guardians had young ace Tanner Bibee and solid free agent acquisition Matthew Boyd, but everyone else was unreliable and inconsistent.
With their young, up-and-coming offense and the best bullpen in baseball, analysts, fans and specialists have all identified the rotation as the primary area to improve ahead of the 2025 campaign.
They could bring back Shane Bieber, but he is unlikely to start the season healthy enough to pitch after undergoing Tommy John surgery in April.
Alex Cobb is also an option to come back, but he lacks the upside the Guardians need.
Boyd, of course, would be welcomed back with open arms but he is getting up there in age.
Cleveland needs a reliable ace who can take the ball every five days and deliver a masterful performance.
Corbin Burnes, a former Cy Young award winner in 2021, would be a perfect target.
Recent rumblings suggest Burnes could be a worthwhile addition to the Guardians rotation, and if they are willing to splash the cash, it makes perfect sense.
Burnes posted a 2.92 ERA in 194.1 frames this year with the Baltimore Orioles, punching out 181 batters.
He is now free to sign with any team of his liking, and while the Guardians are highly unlikely to be the highest bidders given their recent spending history, he could be the missing piece in the rotation.
He has a great setup to succeed in Cleveland: the perfect age for a pitcher (30), experience, pedigree, dominant stuff, pinpoint command, a great pitching coach, a forward-thinking organization and a roster set to compete.
All the Guardians need is to make a competitive offer.
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